Adjustable curvature form



Feb. 9 1926.

1,572,820 A. W. SPORER I ADJUSTABLE CURVATURE FORM Filed March 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Anion, W5 orer Feb. 9,1926. 1,572,820

A. w. SPORER ADJUSTABLE CURVATURE FORM Filed March 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Awnws orer INVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 192-.

UNITE ANTON W ELEOREIEPJ, 033' Mill ADJUSTABLE CURVATUll-E FORD/I.

Application filed March 12, 1923.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ANTON W. Sronnn, a citizen oi the United States, residmg at ldanitowoc, in the county of Manitowoc and State 01' isconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Curvature Forms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to forms and has for its object the provision oi a novel curvature form for use in building articles having curved surfaces, the form being so constructed as to have the various layers, strips or other elements placed thereon and held lirmly so that when the article is built 1t will have the desired conliguration, the de vice being capable of l'iandling wood, metal or other material.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character which is adjustable whereby the curvature may be varied to meet diiierent requiren'ients, depending upon the nature of the work, means being also provided for indicating the degree of curvature so that it will be known definitely.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly eliicient in use, easy to operate and control, etlicient in service and a general improve ment in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in one position,

Figure 2 is a plan view,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section showing the parts adjusted into a different position,

Figure 4 is a cross section on line l4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section showing the gearing for effecting adjustment,

Figure 6 is a detail view of the indicating means,

Figure 7 is a perspective View of one element of the adjustable portion of the form,

Figure 8 is a detail View.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown my device as comprising an elongated supporting base 10 upon one end portion of which is secured an upright 11 which is located at the ends of a pair of Serial lilo.

longitudinal guide bars 12 which extend in spaced parallel relation and upon which is slidable a block 13 similar to the upright 11 The numeral 14-. designates the form as a whole and this form consists of a plurality oi substantially if-shaped yokes 15 which have their upper ends carrying transverse strips 16 which may be formed integrally thereon or secured thereto as preferred. The strips 16 of the successive units are offset inwardly at one end as shown so that the ends of the successive strips will overlap, and these overlapping ends are connected by pintles 17 which form pivotal connections. v

All the units or yokes are connected by a lazy tongs which consists of a series of links 18 pivotally connected with one another in pairs and with the yokes as shown at 19. Pivotally connected at the ends of these links 18 at their points of pivotal connection with each other, are pairs of divergent links 21 which are oii'set from each other and are pivotally connected together by a block 22 the latter being slidable on guide. stems 23 depending from cross bars 25 extending across the upper or outer ends of the yokes. The intermediate pivots of the lazy tongs are located at unequal distances from the end pivots so that the lazy tongs may assume the curve shown.

This form structure is carried by the up right 11 and block 13, the supporting means consisting of angular arms 26 rigidly secured to the end yokes and pivotally conn-ccted at 27 with the upright 11 and block 13.

The adjusting means consists of a screw 28 revoluble through the upright 11 and having threaded engagement with a nut 29 carried by the block 13. This screw carries a bevel gear 30 with which meshes a similar gear 31 on a countershaft 32 provided with a crank handle 33.

In the operation it will be seen that by turning thehandle 33 in one direction or the other, the screw action will result in moving the block 13 either toward or away from the upright 11, as the case may be. As the block 13 is moved, the form structure will be adjusted so as to have any desired curvature within certain limits. It is of course obvious that when the block is moved closer to the support the form will have a far more abrupt or decided curvature than when the block is far away from the support 11.

It is highly desirable that the operator know definitelythe degree of curvature. In this connection, I employ an indicator which includes a graduated dial 3% over which an indicating hand 85 is movable, the latter being attached to a worm wheel 36 operated by a worm shaft 37 which is geared to a worm shaft 38 on the handle 33.

From. the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive form which is fully adjustable to give any desired curvature and which will be a great time and labor saver for use in wood working or wherever it is necessary to build with curved surfaces. The device is bound to be accurate and will consequently insure better workmanship.

\Vhile I have shown and described the preferredembodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the subjoined' claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. An adjustable form of the character described comprising a base,- a stationary upright thereon, a block slidable along the base, a form supported from the block and upright and consisting of a series of pivotally connected sections, and means for adjusting the position of the movable block, said means consisting of a screw rotatable through the upright and having threaded connection withthe block, a gear on said screw, a counter-shaft carrying a gear mesh-- ing with said first named gear and a handle on the counter-shaft.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base, astationary upright thereon, a block slidablealong the base, means for moving the block, and a form consisting of a series ofpivot'allyconnected units, one endmost-one of the series beingsupported from the upright and the other bein supported from the block,'each unit consisting of a yoke, and a lazy tongs connecting all the yokes.

3. In a device of the character described a form consisting of a series of substantially V-shaped yokes having the ends of their arms carrying transversestrips, bridge pieces connecting said transverse strips, the strips of the successive yokes being pivota'lly connected at their ends, a lazy tongs structure consisting of links pivoted within the yokes and pivotally connected at their other ends, a second series of links pivotally connected withsaid first named links at the second named pivotal connections thereof, guides pivotally connected with the free ends of the second named links, and rods projecting inwardly from said bridge pieces and slidable through said guides.

In testimony whereof I alrix my signature. I

ANTON IV. SPORER. 

